Schuey happy for McLaren rival

The world champion finished 11 seconds behind the Finn, who was demoted from second to fourth for the start for jumping the pitlane exit lights in the morning warm-up.

"Mika won fair and square and I am pretty happy for him," said Schumacher. "It is justice when you consider what happened this morning. Today I can live with this result.

"I am disappointed for Rubens [Barrichello]. He could have been second today. I think that is the first engine fault we have had this year and in this perspective that's not too bad. But it would have been better if it had happened to me rather than him.

Schumacher admitted Ferrari got their tyre strategy wrong. "In the end the tyre choice wasn't the right one because we didn't have the consistency advantage we expected. But the work you do on Friday does not always relate to Sunday.

"The temperature was quite different. We thought we made the right decision but sometimes that is not the case, but I am saying that not knowing all the factors. We might learn something new later.

"I am happy with second. After the way the race went we have to be happy with second. I am not sure I would have been in front of Montoya or Rubens had they not retired."

Schumacher now has 113 points, close to double the number of his nearest championship rival David Coulthard, who was a fortunate third at Indy.

Schumacher said the event has the required uplifting effect on the mourning American nation. "When you look into face of people and see joy and happiness coming back to faces and know we are part of the reason, it makes us happy thinking we are doing the right thing for them."